UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - December 8, 2011 - The December 3 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" has equaled the show's highest adult 18-49 rating since last May, while earning the biggest "SNL" overall viewership since early October, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

The 2.5 matches "Saturday Night Live's" season high, previously achieved on November 5 with an episode hosted by Charlie Day and featuring musical guest Maroon 5. It also ties the show's best 18-49 rating since May 21 (the season finale hosted by Justin Timberlake with musical guest Lady Gaga). This week's 6.6 million viewers overall is "SNL's" biggest audience in nine weeks (since October 1 with host Melissa McCarthy and musical guest Lady Antebellum).

The 2.5 rating in adults 18-49 for the December 3 edition of "Saturday Night Live" topped every Saturday non-sports primetime telecast on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox since January 16, 2010.